Car-sign



(No Model.)

J.J.DOLAN.

GAR SIGN.

Patented May 5, 1896.

ANnRLW BERMMM. PHOTO UTMOYWA5H |NGTON.D C

NiTnn I JOHN J. DOLAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,516, dated May 5,1896. Application filed November 4, 1895. Serial No. 567,784. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DOLAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Oar-Signs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is a rotatable illuminated car or other sign,in which opposed translucent faces of the sign-box may each have a signthereon illuminated from behind in such a manner that the rear face willtransmit the light so as to illuminate the front sign without blurringor confusing it with the sign on the rear face.

The main feature of my invention consists in a rotatable sign comprisinga box or casing having two opposed faces, each consisting of translucentmaterial, on which a sign is printed, the case being rotatable to bringeither one of the two faces to the front, and a lamp in the rear of thecasing at such a distance that the rays will be transmitted through therear face and illuminate the front face without casting a blurringshadow of the rear sign on the front face.

Another feature of my invention consists in making the trunnions andtheir bearings angular in cross-section to prevent the sign fromwabbling when set.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of thedashboard of the streetcar with my improved car-sign attached. Fig. 2 isa side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the casing and the lamp. Fig. 4 is an enlarged endView of the same parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig.l.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, I have represented the deviceas connected with the dashboard A of a street-car, although it may beattached to any portion of the car desiredas,' for instance, to thebonnet. A casing B has two opposing faces 19 b, of ground glass or othertranslucent material, on each of which is printed or otherwise markedthe appropriate sign. The casing may be fitted to receive these panelsas slides which can be readily removed and replaced by others, or theymay be permanently secured therein. It is preferable, though notessential, that when the slides are in place they should form Thereshould, however, be a a close box.

space between the translucent panels. The casing is supported bytrunnions 11 projecting from the ends and mounted in brackets 61. Thetrunnions b are angular in cross-section, and the brackets 01 are formedwith an eye cl, having an angular bend d at the bottom to receive theangular edge of the trunnions to keep the case in an upright positionand prevent wabblin g when the sign is turned to expose either of itsfaces. These brackets are attached directly to the dasher or other partof the car, or when the sign is at the front of the dasher the bracketsare preferably fixed to a frame 01 which is attached to the dashboard.

In Fig. 2 the frame d has hooks d*, by which it is hung on the dashboardand is readily detachable. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the frame01 is bolted to the dashboard.

One great advantage of having the frame oZ detachable is that it can bedetached for the purpose of turning the sign, and it is not necessary insuch case to leave as much clearance-space between the dashboard and thesign as would be necessary if the frame were permanently fixed to thedashboard.

At a short distance in the rear of the signbox is a lamp E, preferablyinclosed in a box E, with a reflector E, which throws the rays of lightdirectly against the rear translucent face of the box. The light istransmitted through the rear face and illuminates the exposed facesufficiently to render the sign thereon legible in the night. The spacebetween the two translucent sign-faces permits the light to diffusesufficiently to prevent any appreciable shadow of the lettering on therear face being cast on the front face to blur the exposed sign. The boxE, containing the lamp, is set in an opening in the dashboard behind thesign-box.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A rotatable car or other signconsisting of a box having two opposed sign-faces of translucentmaterial with space between said faces, and mounted in bearings whichpermit either sign-face to be rotated into an exposed position, incombination with a lamp behind said box whose rays are transmittedthrough the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed sign-face,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

IOO

2. A rotatable car or other sign consisting of a box having opposedsign-faces of translucent material with a space between said faces,angular-sided trunnions on said box, brackets having angular-sidedbearings for said trunnions which hold the box with either sign-faceexposed, and a frame to which said brackets are secured, in combinationwith a lamp behind said box whose rays are transmitted through the rearsign-face and illuminate the exposed sign-face.

3. In combination with a car, a rotatable car-sign consisting of a boxhaving opposed sign-faces with intervening space, angularsided trunnionson said box, brackets having angular-sided bearings for said trunnionswhich hold the box with either sign-face exposed, a frame to which saidbrackets are secured, a lamp-holder set in the framework of the carbehind said sign-box, and a lamp in said holder whose rays aretransmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposedsign-face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-signconsisting of a box havin g opposed sign-faces of translucent materialwith an intervening space, said box being mounted in bearings whichpermit rotation of the box to expose either sign-face, bracketssupporting said box in front of the dashboard, a lamp-holder set in thedashboard back of the sign-box, and a lamp in said holder Whose rays aretransmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposedsignface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-signconsisting of a box having opposed sign-faces of translucent materialwith an intervening space, angularsided trunnions on said box, bracketshaving angular-sided bearings for said trunnions which hold the box witheither sign-face exposed, a frame to which said brackets are attached, alamp-holder set in the dashboard back of the sign, and a lamp in saidholder Whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face andilluminate the exposed signface, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

6. In combination with the dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-signconsisting of a box having opposed sign-faces, trunnions on said box,brackets having bearings for said trunnions, a frame to which saidbrackets are secured, and means for detachably securing said frame tothe dashboard, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 31st day of October, A.D. 1895.

JOHN J. DOLAN. IVitnesses:

WM. A. COPELAND, A. I. CRAWFORD.

